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Lester White, 83, Ran White Bros. Construction

Thursday, January 9, 2014 - 1:46pm

Lester A. White of Oak Bluffs, an Island native, died on Sunday morning, Dec. 29 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. He was 83.

He was born on May 15, 1930 in Oak Bluffs, the son of Antone F. White and Mary Caton, who immigrated from Portugal to raise their family of seven. Lester was married for 47 years to Leona (Smith) White.

Lester attended the Oak Bluffs School and started working for the family business with his brothers at White Bros. Construction, which was started by his father in the late 1920s and then taken over by Lester and his brothers. After running the business by operating cranes and machinery and driving trucks, in 2002 he finally retired.

Lester enjoyed his time doing yard work, hunting, raising chickens, being with his beloved German shepherds and going to the coffee shop. He loved to meet and greet everyone and was never without conversation. You may have seen him driving his 1975 Lincoln Continental, which didn’t get a lot of mileage. He had recently sold the car with only 25,000 miles on it. Most of all, he enjoyed visits with his family.

Lester is survived by his wife Leona; his son Antone White and his wife Carrie of Poway, Calif.; his brothers, Albert White and George White; his sister, Katherine White Mazza; his grandchildren, Heather Ann White, Heidi Elizabeth White, James Antone White, Mary Beth Baptiste and Christopher Thurber; his great-granddaughter, Samantha Lynn Thurber, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; his children, Adelburt E. Thurber and Eleanor T. Eglinas; his brother, Joseph White, and sisters, Evelyn White and Mary Eglinas.

A graveside service for the interment of his cremains was held on Jan. 4 in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oak Bluffs, officiated by Rev. Michael Nagle. A reception followed at the Portuguese American Club.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Vineyard Nursing Association, 455 State Road, PMB 312, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

Arrangements were under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. For online guestbook and information visit, ccgfuneralhome.com.